JOB/GC/310  
 
25 May 2022  
(22-4057) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
TWELFTH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE  
 
PROPOSAL BY BRAZIL  
The following communication , dated 25 May 2022, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Brazil.  
 
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The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision -making body of the WTO, usually meeting every 
two years. The last Ministerial Conference (MC11) took  place more than four years ago, and a long 
interval was also observed between MC6 in 2005 and MC7 in 2009.  
 
These delays (i) weaken ministerial oversight and guidance; (ii) generate unnecessary uncertainties 
on the work ahead; and (iii) add more pressure on Members to deliver meaningful results at 
Ministerials. As we have observed, these uncertainties are even more harmful and disruptive during 
times of economic crises, with an increased risk that particularly difficult issues generate gridlock.  
 
In Brazil 's view, the WTO membership should consider more frequent ministerial engagement. 
Ideally, as in so many other international fora, such as the OECD, ECOSOC, the IMF, the World Bank 
and the UNFCCC, WTO ministerial meetings could take place every year, not n ecessarily to make 
decisions or deliver on big packages, but rather to exchange views on world trade and the 
multilateral trading system, debate short and long -term issues and solutions, and provide complex 
ongoing negotiations, with guidance and political  drive.  
 
Brazil believes that yearly high -level meetings would provide the opportunity for the whole WTO 
membership to show their continued commitment to the rules -based multilateral trading system; 
bring fresh approaches to Geneva 's long outstanding issues; and, also importantly, to address 
specific trade -related issues and urgencies in a timely manner, allowing the Organization to deliver 
results, as new challenges arise. The current situation regarding agricultural supply chains and food  
security and our efforts to articulate a timely WTO response certainly illustrate the potential for more 
frequent ministerial engagement with the organization.  
 
As conjunctural, time -sensitive, challenges often impact disproportionally developing countrie s, 
especially LDCs, annual ministerial meetings would also contribute to improve developing countries ' 
engagement with the WTO. Without failing to recognize that developing countries, especially LDCs, 
might need some horizontal flexibilities, it seems clea r that not all developing countries face the 
same challenges or are endowed with the same resources or capabilities. More frequent interaction 
and enhanced debate and discussion among Ministers should lead, over time, to a better and more 
nuanced comprehen sion of specific developing countries ' needs and expectations regarding the 
multilateral trading system. Trade must play a critical role in supporting sustainable development.  
 
Finally, and for all the reasons above, Brazil believes that annual ministerial  conferences would 
greatly contribute to rebuild much needed trust among WTO Members, increasing willingness to 
cooperate at the multilateral level. Strengthening high -level dialogue will contribute to enhancing 
effectiveness and responsiveness in all thre e pillars of the WTO, while shielding the multilateral 
trading system from a backlash of protectionism. With the full engagement of its membership, and 
a better understanding of short and long -term trends and challenges, Brazil is confident that the 
WTO wi ll deliver on the multilateral trading system 's enormous potential for promoting gains of 
trade, economic growth and sustainable development for all.  
 JOB/GC/310  
 
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  In light of the foregoing, Brazil proposes the following draft for a decision by the Ministerial 
Conferen ce at MC12:  
 
The Ministerial Conference,  
 
Having  regard to paragraph 1 of Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization;  
 
Recalling  that the WTO Agreement provides that the Ministerial Conference shall meet at least once 
every two years;  
 
Recognizing  that long intervals  between meetings of the Ministerial Conference may negatively 
impact on ministerial oversight and guidance for the work carried out in the WTO;  
 
Acknowledging  that trade -related urgencies and challenges often impact disproportionally 
developing countries,  especially least -developed countries, and that more frequent meetings of the 
Ministerial Conference would contribute to a better understanding of the needs and expectations of 
specific developing countries regarding the multilateral trading system;  
 
Desiring that the WTO respond in a timely manner to trade -related urgencies and challenges as they 
arise;  
 
Decides as follows:  
 
Following the twelfth Ministerial Conference, the Ministerial Conference shall meet once every year. 
Its next meeting shall be held i n 2023.  
 
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